Motor-vehicle.



N. S. DUNAWAY. MOTOR VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1908.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

3140014 l'oz m I nwmm N. S. DUNAWAY.

MOTOR VEHIGLE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1908.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909. a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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N. S. DUNAWAY.

MOTOR VEHICLE. APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 29, 1908.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEETS.

"UNIT D STATES PATENT orries.

NORMAN S. DUNAWAY, OFIIELENA, ALABAMA, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO WILEY TOM JOHNSON, OF HELENA, ALABAMA, AND CHAS. L. SPAIN, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. March 9, 1909.

Application filed August 29, 1908. Serial No. 450,840.

Alabama, have invented a Motor-Vehicle, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in vehicles, and relates more especially to that particular class which are propelled by a motor or engine carried by the vehicle and geared to the driving-wheels thereof, and in which such'vehicle is guided through the interventionof steering mechanism connected to the front axle and operated by a person occupying the seat." 7

The primary object of my invention is the production of a motor vehicle which can be built at comparatively small cost, and of such simple construction that it will .be light,

consistent with required strength and durability, positive in operation, and easily adjustable to take-up for ordinary wear of parts.

a With this primary object in view my invention contemplates a peculiar construction and arrangement of mechanism for transmitting the power of the engine or motor to the rear driving-axles, in connection with means for o crating the same controlled by a lever locate convenient to the operator occupying the seat of the vehicle.

M invention further contemplates the emp oyment of simple and effective steering mechanism which is operated by the conventional wheel and post, and com rises a novel form of fifth-wheel device by w ich the front axle which carries the steering-wheels is ivotally connected to the body of the vehicle, in conjunction with a sprocket-chain and connections for turning the axle by "the operation of the steering-post.

The particular construction and operation of those parts of the motor vehicleyyhich con stitutes "my invention will be-hereinafter fully described in detail, and what I claim as new and desire to secure by-Letters-Patent will be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawin s, which form a part of thIsspecificatiOn: -igure 1 is a sideelevation of a motor-vehicle or autocarriage embodyin my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation t ereof.

Flg. 3 is a plan view, with the body of the ve icle removed so" as to clearly show the transmission gear and steerin mechanism. Fig. '4 is an enlarged detail view of the transmission gear. Fig. 5 is an'enlarged view of the steeringpost and parts carried thereby, partly in section. Fig. 6 is a'sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 5, to show the pawl and ratchet device hereinafter referred to. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 5, to

show the sprocket-wheel which is fined to the lower end of the steering- )ost. Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through one of the devices which form a part of the steering mechanism. Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view through said device, on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, and including the chain connection. Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional view throu h the fifth-wheel device for pivotally and yieldingly connecting the front axle to the body portion of the-vehicle. Figs. 11 and 12 are details of certain parts com rised in Fig. 10, and hereinafter specifica y referred to.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

As'r. ill appear hereinafter my present invention -consists primarily in the construction and disposition of parts comprising the transmission-gear and steering mechanism, and as I'lay no claim to the motor and its accessories they are not herein shown, it being understood, of course, that any type of engine, either internal combustion or steam, may beemploy ed. v

Q In carrying out my invention, the rear driving axles 15, carrying the rear wheels 15*, are inclosed and suitably journaled in a casing 16, the latter being provided in the present instance with a housing 17 to receive the gearing, hereinafter described, by which the pot er driven-shaft'is connected to said axles. Bolted to the casing 16 is an ellipticspring 18, for yielilingly suppmting the rear end of the body 19 of the vehicle. In the present instance the body rests upon longitudinal L-beams 20, which are connected at their rear ends by a flat cross-bar 21, to which the aforesaid elliptic-spring 18 is bolted, and near their forward ends said angle or L- beams are connected by a flat cross-bar 22 to which is bolted an elliptic spring 23 for yieldingly supporting the front of the vehicle-body; while at an intermediate point there is connected to said angle beams a drop-hanger or bracket 24, for the and is provided with grally therewith comprises the upper memwardly from an inverted cup-shaped device wheel.

purpose hereinafter explained. The front elliptic-spring 23 rests upon and is bolted to one part of the fifth-wheel or pivotal connection for the front axle, and the reach-bars 25 i are secured at their rear ends to the axle-casing 16, as at 26, and at their forward ends to that part of the fifth-wheel to which the aforesaid front elliptic-spring is bolted. As .1 ill be seen the body 19 of the vehicle simply rests upon and is bolted to the angle beams l 20, and may be readily removed therefrom, either for the purpose of substituting a different style body oi-for convenience in getting 1 v at the mechanism for examination and repair. In the present instance I have shown a bod of that type commonly termed a runa out, but it will be understood, of course, that the L-beamsmav be longer for the purpose of receiving a body having additional seating capacity.

The front elliptic-spring 23 is bolted di rectly to a plate 27, which latter in connection with the circle-plate 28 formed inteber of the fifth-wheel. The plate 27 is provided, preferably at its ends, with reachsockets 29, to which the reach-bars 25-are connected, and centrally said plate is formed with a de ending socket 30 adapted to receive a bill 31 formed on the other or lower member of the fifth-wheel. This'lower member 32 consists of a plate concave laterally on its under-side to fit upon the front axle 33,

holes 34 through which pass for securing the same to said front axle. The member 32 is also formed with cups 35 located a distance from the ball and socket joint so that the circle-plate 28 will be disposed thereabove, and within these cups or cavit-ies'so formed are springpressed rollers upon which the circle-plate bears. In the present instance each roller, as 36, is journaled in ears 37 projecting upthe screws 38 fitting within the cup-shaped projection 35 and movable vertically therein. Inter posed between the upper )art of the inverted cup-shaped device 38 and the bottom of the cavity or cup 35 is a strong coiled spring 39, adapted to press the roller up against the circle-plate, and. it will be noted that the dovn- Ward movement of the roller-carrier is limited by contact with the bottom of the cup or cavity. The bolts which connect the up per member of the fifth-wheel to the front elliptic-spring pass through the holes 27 a in the plate 27 of the upper member of the fifth- As will be readily understood this i form of fifthwvheel not only provides for easily turning the front axle by reason of the anti-friction rollers on which the circle-plate bears, but by reason of the ball and socket: i

joint, in connection with the spring-pressed rollers the upper part of the fifth-wheel upon which the front end of the body of the "chiwheels passes overen obstruction.

The form of fifth-wheel hereinbefore described is especially adapted in connection with the steering-mechanism hereinafter de scribed, but it will be understood, of course that the same can be with other vehicles than those driven by a motor.

Mounted'n on the front axle 33, at opposite sides of t e fifth-Wheel hereinbefore described, are devices for connecting the ends of a sprocket-chain 6 to said front axle, (see Figs 8 and 9), said connecting devices each comprising a two-partcasing 41 adapted to inclose a small sprocket-wheel 42, the lower part .1 being rectanguler in shape and provided with depending flanges 43 having the threaded lugs 44 by which the device is clamped to the axle, while the upper part, 41 is cylindrical and provided with triangular shaped flanges (see Fig. 9) by which it is securely riveted to the part 41, The sprocket-wheel 42 is provided with gudgeons, as shown, by which it is ournaled horizontally in the casing, and the upper part of the latter is provided in its sides with openings 45 so that the sprocket-chain 46 may pass into the casing and engage the sprocket-wheel. For the purpose of adjusting the sprocket-wheel and for-holding the same firmly after adjustment I provide a removable bolt 47, which passes through the upper part of the casing and-is threaded in the lower part thereof, said bolt engaging between any two of the teeth of the-sprocketwheel; and for convenience in turning said sprocket-wheel the upper gudgeon 1s extended beyond the casing and squared, as shown,

to receive an ordinary wrench. The sprocketchain 46 passes around a sprocket-wheel 48 fixed to the lower end of a steering-post 49, the latter having fastened at its upper end an ordinary form of hand-Wheel 50.

In order to prevent the sprocket-chain from becoming disengaged from the sprocketwheel 48, by reason of such chain stretching in use, I provide a guard 51, which is loosely used in connection V mounted on the lower end of the steeringpost and consists of a horizontally-disposed segment-plate having a verticalflange '51 which extends partially around the 'snrocketwheel, the ends of said flange being ared so as not to bind against the chain but permit it to freely turn with the sprocket-wheel.

The operation ofthisisteerin'g mechanism will be readily understood, for inasmuch as the ends of the sprocket-chain 46 are secured to the front axle, and said chain passes around the sprocket-Wheel secured on the lower end of the rotatable steering-postthe turning of the latter in either direction will through the medium of said chain draw upon the axle and swing the same so as to deflect the guidewheels 33 the axle turning on the fifthvwheel. By the particular-construction of the fifth-Wheel device the axle 33 may be easily turned, and the swaying of the body of the vehicle taken up by the springpressed rollers forming a part of the fifthwheel device. When the sprocket-chain stretches the slack can be readily taken up at either or both ends by simply removing the bolt 47 and turning the sprocket-wheel 42 so as to draw upon the chain, the sprocket wheel being turned by means of an ordinary nut-wrench placed in engagement with the squared upper end of the gudgeon. When the sprocket-chain has been tightened to the desired extent the bolt is threaded in place between two of the teeth of the sprocketwheel. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 9 the end of the sprocket-chain extends partially around the sprocket-wheel and is retained in en agement therewith, against slipping off when slack, by means of the segmental wall between the openings 45. This particular. arrangement not only provides a very strong and secure fastening for the end of the chain, but also-provides a very convenient means for readily tightening or adjusting the chain. This particular form of steering mechanism, including thefifthwheel and sprocket-chain connection with the steering-post, not only forms a very simple and cheap construction, but alsoione that is very strong and durable, thereby in-' creasing the dependability of an important part of a vehicle of this character.

Located in the housing 17, and connected to the drivin axle 15 is a large conical wheel or beveledfimll-wheel 52, and with. the beveled surface of this wheel at opposite sides of its center are adapted to engage conical rollers 53 and 54 which are fixed'on a driven shaft 55 passing transversely through the housing and movable longitudinally. This ,shaft extends forwardly through-a bearing 56 in the drop-hanger or bracket 24, and is rotatablyconnected, as at 57, (Fig. 5), to an eccentric 58; one member, as 58*, of said eccentric beingrigidly secured to a tubular post 59, inclosing the steering-post 49 'hereinbefore referred to. The shaft is driven from a suitable motor (not shown but indicated in'dotted lines Fig. 3') by means of. a wide gearwheel 60 on the shaft meshing with a pinion 61 on a crank-shaft 62 driven directly by the motor.

, or engine, said wide gearwheel allowing for a longitudinal movement of the shaft with-- out disengaging the gearwheels. In" the operation of this transmission gear, the shaft 55 being driven constantly in one direction the vehicle will be: propelled forward. when one of the driven conical rollers, as 53, is moved into frictional engagement with the beveled bull-wheel 52, and will be pro elled rearwardly when the other conical roLer, as 54, is moved into engagement with said beveled'bull-wheel, it being understood, of COIJISG thM; when either conical roller is moved'into engagement with the wheel the other is released, and that an intermediate or neutral positionwill release both; the operation of throwing the conical-roliers in and out of frictional engagement with the beveled bull-wheel being effected b turning the tubular-post or standard 59 which operates the eccentric. Instead of an eccentric I may, in some instances, employ an ordinary crank connection between the operating post or standard 59 and the shaft, and, also, may employ a. se arate or'indeplendent operating shaft in lieu of the tubular post.

However, it will be found thatthe arrangement shown is preferable. l or the purpose of turning the tubular post 59 it-is. provided with a handle 63, secured to the upper end thereof and located below the hand wheel 50, said handle projecting forwardly in its -normal or neutral position. In order to hold the tubular post when turned in one direction it is'provided with a ratchet-wheel 64 engaged by a spring-actuated pawl 65, the latter having a toe-piece 65 for releasing the same by pressure of the 'operators foot thereagainst. This ratchet-wheel serves to hold the post when the same is turned in that direction to 'engagethe conical-roller propel the vehicle forward, and of course when it is desired to back the vehicle it is only necessary to hold the pawl released while the tubular ost is turned in the reverse direction and eld manuall Suitable differential gearing isinstalled etween the beveled bull-wheel and-other driving-axle.

The hubs of the rear driving-wheels 15 are each provided with an ordinary form of band-brake 66', operated by a lever 67 through the medium of a connecting-r0d 68, the lever being fulcrumed on a pin 69 proj ecting from an angle-beam 20 of the vehiclebody. The construction of the band-brake is of a conventional form, and illustration thereof herein is unnecessary.

The gearwheels 60 and 61 may be inclosed in a, suitable casing, as indicated in dotted. lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, so as to pro tect said gears from dirt and dust.

From. the foregoing description, in con- 'nection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and practical advantages of my invention will be readily iuiiderstood, and it will be seen that by the particular construction and arrangement of parts Iam able to provide a motor vehicle or auto-car'ria e that can be built at comparatively smail cost, can be easily operated and will be serviceable and durable in use.

Having thus described my invention, what with the body and front axle connected by a I claim as new and desire to "secure by Let tars-Patent, is a 1. In a motor-vehicle, the combination fifth-wheel or pivotal connection, of attachingdevices secured on the-front. axle near the opposite endsthereof, a steering-posthaving a sprocket-whhelfix'ed thereto, a segmentplate loosely mounted below the sprocket-wheel and having-a flange extend-j ing artially around the latter,f-and fa sproc et-chain secured at its ends to the at-.

taching devices and passing around the sprocket-wheel within the aforesaid flange, substantially as shown and described.

2. 'In a motor vehicle, the combinationwith the body and front axle connected by a fifth-wheel or pivotalconnection, of casings secured to the axle near opposite ends thereof, andeach having a sprocket-wheeltherein, means for adjusting the sprocket-wheel.

rotatably in the casingytogether with a steering-post, a sprocket-Wheeljfixed thereits ends engaging'rthe sprocket-Wheels in the and engaging emees ings at opposite sides, a sprocket-wheel mounted-in each casingand rotatable theregassing through the casing,

in-, and a bolt etween any two of the sprocket-teeth of the aforesaid sprocket.-

wheel; together with a steering-post having a sprocket-wheel fixed-thereto, and a-cham passing around said sprocket-wheel and engaging" latter, substantially as shown'and described. 4. In a motor. vehicle,- the combination with the swiveled front-axle-and sprocketchain for turningthe same, oi-a device for adjustably connectin an end of the sprocket chain-to the front e, comprising'a casing having openings its opposite sides, a

sprocket-wheel Irotatably mounted .in. the casing and -havii1g. a"projecting gudgeon squared at its end, and a bolt removablysecured-in the casing so as to engage between two of 'the'te'eth of the sprocket-wheel, the end at the sprocket-chain enga the sprocket-wheel through the openings 1n the casing, substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signedmy name to this specification in the presence of two'subscribing witnesses.

NoRMA-N s. DUNAWAY.

l/l/"itnesses: K

N. L. RUFFIN, M. E. ROY.

at its'ends the sprocket-Wheels in the casings through the openings in the. 

